Rob Miller could be forgiven for looking over his shoulder this season following the summer arrivals of Willie Le Roux, Danny Cipriani and Kurtley Beale in Coventry, but the Carlisle-born Wasps full-back is convinced increased competition is now a prerequisite to success in Aviva Premiership Rugby.

Last season, Wasps came up short in Europe and domestically, losing semi-finals to Saracens and Exeter Chiefs respectively, but after a canny summer in the transfer market, Miller thinks boss Dai Young has got it spot on this term as they sit top of the table.

Le Roux won’t arrive at Wasps until after Christmas, Beale is presently on the treatment table and Cipriani has been playing alongside Jimmy Gopperth in the 10-12 axis, meaning Miller is enjoying some much deserved game time.

And with competition likely to increase ahead of the business end of the season, the full-back believes Wasps’ depth will stand them in good stead.

“It’s really good for us we have a good mix in the squad,” said former Keswick School pupil Miller, speaking at the launch of this year’s Aviva Community Fund alongside team-mates Elliot Daly and Kyle Eastmond.

“The way the game has gone we need a big squad to be there at the end of the season.

“The way the squad is there’s really strong competition for places and having that strength has pushed everyone in training.

“The pressure is on and in every session we want to do everything we can to get the shirt and hold onto it.”

The Aviva Community Fund is a nationwide initiative that lends a helping hand to local communities by offering support and funding for inspirational local causes.

It has already benefited over 320,000 people through 431 winning projects across the UK, and this year, local grassroots sports clubs can apply or reapply for funding in a new, sport-specific category.

And Miller says the memories he accumulated at the grassroots level of the game will live with him for a long time.

“My memories of grassroots rugby are all positive,” he added.

“I started off at my first club in Cumbria when I was four or five years old and it was a lot of fun going down on a Sunday with my friends.

“It was a really good positive introduction to rugby.

"My local club was a huge part of the town and it brought the community together at the weekends.

“A lot of the time the club works through volunteers offering their time, whether that’s helping set up the pitches or organising people to serve food afterwards.

"It’s a huge positive that people give up their time to allow junior teams to run.

“Rugby teaches you a lot of life lessons, such as leadership and working as a team, there’s a whole host of things you learn as well as being active and getting exercise.”

Wasps have started the new Aviva Premiership Rugby season like an express train and are the only unbeaten side left having won all four of their games, but Miller is refusing to get ahead of himself.

“I think the semi-final experience last year was massive because we didn’t come out on the right side of those games but, to be involved in that, I think it will hold us in good stead,” said Miller

“Everyone is back on an equal level so we don’t look far past the next game.

"Obviously, there might be some teams that want to target us but we are in the same boat as everyone else.

“We had a good season last year but that counts for nothing this season. It’s building again and pushing on from last season.”

Premiership Rugby and the 12 Aviva Premiership Rugby Clubs are supporting the Aviva Community Fund, a nationwide initiative which offers funding of up to £25,000 to grassroots sports clubs and other community organisations close to your heart.

Enter at aviva.co.uk/community-fund from September 13.